Cell Phone Recycling Program

The Eco-Challenge partnered with Verizon Wireless' Hopeline program to collect hundreds of cell phones

In celebration of Earth Day 2010, the MBA wrapped up its Lawyers Eco-Challenge cell phone recycling program, which collected and recycled 239 phones, 254 phone chargers and 90 other accessories across the state from February 2009 through April 2010. The program was launched in conjunction with Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program.

Working and broken cell phones, batteries and accessories from all service providers were accepted at one of five collection boxes:

• MBA headquarters, 20 West St., Boston;
• MBA western Massachusetts office, 73 State St., Springfield;
• CLF's Massachusetts headquarters, 62 Summer St., Boston;
• The Green Roundtable's NEXUS Green Building Resource Center, 38 Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston; and
• Seyfarth Shaw, Two Seaport Lane, Boston.

All collected phones, batteries and accessories were shipped to ReCellular in Michigan. HopeLine has collected more than 7 million phones, kept more than 200 tons of electronic waste and batteries out of landfills and donated more than $7.9 million in cash grants to organizations that run domestic violence awareness and prevention programming. Local organizations which have received support are:

• Jane Doe Inc.;
• YWCA of Western Massachusetts;
• Norfolk County Sheriff's Department; and
• Boston Area Rape Crisis Center.